The Obstructed NCAA Top 5: Week 10
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Seems like everything is coming into place. The contenders are becoming separated from the pretenders. And it seems like everybody has a pulse of what is going on in the college football world. And come next week, something crazy will happen to somebody we won't pay attention to (Auburn-Georgia perhaps?) And the Committee will be having a major go at it in 4 weeks. And all the experts will chime in saying how wrong the committee is for their decisions. Good times ahead! Onto the weekly top 5
TOP 5 WINNERS
1. ALABAMA: People penned LSU to win for the fact they were rolling with the offense since they fired Les Miles. Last night, LSU got exposed by Alabama again by being one-dimensional with the run and Danny Etling was horrible passing the football. You can thank Alabama for that. And even with Eddie Jackson out, the Tide didn't miss a beat on defense. They might have supplanted the 2011 team as having the best defense under the Saban Era.
2. OHIO STATE: 62-3 to Nebraska. They're playing mad. Bad news for anybody who plays them still (Michigan State, Michigan, and maybe Wisconsin again)
3. WASHINGTON: Well, many said that the Huskies played in the PAC-12, which is a far weaker conference than the high & mighty SEC, hence why A&M was ahead. However, the Huskies while scuffling a bit in Cal in the first half just blew the doors off the Bears in the 2nd half. They SHOULD be #4 after Tuesday now and are rolling. And then the Apple Cup will be just as big as the Iron Bowl this year.
4. MICHIGAN: 59-3 to Maryland. Less than 3 weeks will be a FUN weekend.
5. CLEMSON: Syracuse looked to be like NC State and stun the Tigers especially with how things were going for the Orange. Clemson wanted none of that. End of the day was an epic beatdown like we all expected Clemson to do this whole season. This might propel the Tigers to just curb-stomp everybody they see now.
TOP 5 LOSERS
1. TEXAS A&M: The Aggies played in a different style all season of running the ball and being defensive minded. And then yesterday they went back to trying to go their stuff circa 2012-2015. And they lost to a measly Mississippi State team and gave up 500 yards. The Aggies were 4th in the committee's eyes, but how? A win against Auburn and then they had not faced anybody until Alabama where they lost but they got the #4 spot? The big loser might have been the Committee for selecting them. And now Texas A&M is out of the running for the SEC Championship Game.
2. FLORIDA: The Gators played like the Muschamp Era Gators in Arkansas. Florida still holds their destiny but will need to beat South Carolina and LSU to do it. But right now whether it is Florida or Tennessee, it might be just an appetizer for Alabama in December.
3. LSU: The Tigers gave the Tide all they could handle, but if you are not multi-dimensional in the offense (i.e. passing the ball), you're dead in the water. And LSU was. Question will be will LSU keep Ed Orgeron after 2016. I hope so.
4. NEBRASKA: Could it have been the hangover from the heartbreaker in Wisconsin or was it the fact the Huskers just ran into a possessed Buckeyes squad? Or could it have been the Huskers haven't played anybody good until last week?
5. BAYLOR: Well, you lost to a TCU team that is down this year and you lose at home by 40 to them. Your chances are done.
TOP 5 QUESTIONS NOBODY WANTS TO ASK:
Alabama will still remain in the driver's seat in the SEC after the Iron Bowl.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
1. Is the SEC in major trouble for a playoff if Alabama stumbles against Auburn (that is if Auburn wins out)? Honestly, no and I am not so sure if the committee would jump Auburn if they do beat Alabama. But Alabama probably gets ahead of Louisville so really Alabama is the lone non-conference champ that could crash the playoff, even if Auburn wins. But honestly, I think Alabama stomps Auburn in the Iron Bowl as Auburn has the same issue as LSU: can't pass.
Texas A&M made the committee look silly with their loss to Mississippi State.
Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
2. Was the Committee justified putting Texas A&M at #4 over Washington? Obviously not. But the Aggies while they have changed their style of play, hadn't faced anybody outside of Auburn and Alabama (where they went 1-1 and faced off against a weaker Auburn squad than the one now) and have played a weak out-of-conference schedule (as UCLA has gone completely in the tank). The Aggies still need to play Ole Miss and LSU as well. So did the Committee screwed up by putting Texas A&M 4th? You bet. But they have loved the Aggies for 3 seasons which makes zero sense to me.
West Virginia might have a slim chance at the playoff still.
Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
3. Outside of Louisville, which team on the outside looking in has the BEST chance of making a playoff? Honestly, nobody. I think you're down to 6 teams who has a legit shot. I don't see a 2-loss squad jumping ahead, especially if the squads are trying to be jumped are teams with no losses. Maybe West Virginia for the fact of having 1 loss and if they win out?
Lamar Jackson & Louisville could still sneak in even over a 2-loss Auburn team if Auburn wins the Iron Bowl & SEC Championship.
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4. Will a 2-loss team make the playoff? Honestly, I don't think so. Not even Auburn who wins out would be there. And I say that is because how the others have played. If a 2-loss team were to make it I would put Wisconsin for having to go to war with Michigan and Ohio State in back-to-back weeks. But I don't know. But I do think the committee values conference champions so hypothetically speaking, you could see Auburn sneak in over a 1-loss Michigan team (if they lose to Ohio State), 1-loss Louisville team, and a 1-loss Alabama team. It will be something to think about and the debates will be high December 4th. But this might be the year that a 1-loss non-conference champ ends up getting a playoff berth even over an SEC Champ that is Auburn.
Orgeron really kept LSU from going in the tank in 2016.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
5. Will Ed Orgeron be the LSU coach next year? He should. Will he? LSU has the Alabama Syndrome like any Michigan/Ohio State coach. LSU's coaches will be judged by whether they can beat Alabama. Is that fair? No. But the Tigers until last night were firing on all cylinders and they really hadn't under Miles since 2011. But LSU might want that sexy pick and say bye to Orgeron. But if he doesn't stay at LSU, he will be picked up somewhere. And perhaps by a big school.
-Fan in the Obstructed Seat
